The Chinese government reaffirmed the need to shore up manufacturing through Internet platforms and information technology to upgrade traditional industry.

Combining manufacturing with the Internet will help revitalize traditional industries and release more growth potential, according to a guideline document released by the State Council, China's cabinet.

By 2018, eighty percent of manufacturing companies should build online platforms. By 2025, online infrastructure should be used throughout the industry to raise competitiveness, it said.

Last year, China unveiled the "Made in China 2025" blueprint, which aims to improve manufacturing and shift the country away from low-end manufacturing to more value-added production.

Also last year, China announced the "Internet Plus" initiative to enable more businesses to take advantage of the Internet.

According to the document, the government also pledged supportive policies in financing, taxation, land and human resources to develop Internet-based manufacturing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2016)